Coming home Tuesday...

Kelly gets to come home Tuesday!

She has been at Fanny Allen working hard for a week now.  She has been working with an PT (physical therapist) and OT (occupational therapist).  They are making sure she has the strength and skills to be able to come back home and get around safely.  At this point, she can stand independently, walk with a cane, and even go up and down stairs, as long as there is a hand rail.

Since Fanny Allen is a rehab facility, we haven't had someone staying with her 24/7 like we did at Fletcher Allen.  She has been staying pretty busy with 3 hours of therapy a day, and plenty of naps, but she is getting antsy.  She isn't allowed to move around on her own at Fanny Allen, because they are worried about safety, and she misses being home. Daddy has been going over to have dinner with her most nights, and we stop by some, but she will be glad to be back with the family soon!

Mobility will still be a challenge when she comes home, so Dad is installing grab bars in a few key places so she can move around the house by herself.  She won't be able to go out into the woods by herself though, so that is disappointing.  So, if anyone has been wanting to learning from Kelly about wild edibles or permiculture, you should find a time to go take a walk or play in the garden with her, so she can get out and do what she loves!

She was also disappointed to miss farmers market and church last week, so for those of you that she knows through one of those settings, she's looking forward to seeing you there!

The leg is on the mend!

Kelly's leg is doing much better!  On Saturday morning she couldn't move it, but since Sunday she has had back much of her strength.  Still, they weren't allowing her to try standing or getting up on her own, and she had to have help to move to the wheelchair or use the bathroom, which was getting frustrating.  By Monday morning she was getting very antsy. So, we are glad that yesterday they were able to move her to Fanny Allen for inpatient rehab.  We are especially thankful because it can sometimes be difficult to get a spot there.

When they came to evaluate her for rehab, they were trying to make sure she doesn't have medical issues that will get in the way of rehab, and make sure she'll be ready to do the work necessary to get better.  As soon as the woman came in, mom started giving her the litany of lost function, all the things she could do with her right hand before this most recent seizure, and the necessity of getting around.  The lady kept saying "Yes, I hear you have goals.  I think you'll be a really good candidate for rehab".  I think she though mom was trying to convince her she'd be a good candidate.... nope, just being mom being herself....enthusiastic about everything, especially regaining mobility and independence!

She stayed at Fanny Allen last night, and had her first evaluation this morning.  During that evaluation, she was able to stand by herself, and even walk a little!  She will be working hard there... a total of 3 hours per day of rehab.  They said an average stay is 1-2 weeks.... so they'll get her back on her feet and moving, and then let her continue doing the work at home.  If she can already stand though, we're very optimistic about the progress she will make!

No news is good news (so unfortunately there is news)

Kelly was hospitalized again last night.  She experienced really bad nausea all day yesterday, because she just finished a round of chemo.  Yesterday evening she had twitching in her arm (which she has had before) and then in her face (which she hasn't had).   Dad gave her the emergency seizure meds that we have for her, and called the ambulance.  The twitching had subsided a bit by the time the EMTs arrived, but she wasn't able to keep down the second dose of emergency seizure medicine.  They transported her to the hospital at around 7:00 last night.  By midnight they had admitted her to the oncology floor.  Dad was able to go in the ambulance with her, and has been at the hospital all night.

It turns out she has a lot of inflammation and fluid around the tumor right now.  Because of this inflammation, the paralysis has spread from her right arm to her right leg as well.  We are hoping this is a good sign though- if the tumor is irritated, it may be because the chemo is doing a good job killing the cancer cells. 

They have put her on slightly more seizure medication and a lot more steroids.  They seem to be having a good effect.  Even in the 2 hours since I arrived at the hospital this morning, she seems to have a bit more strength in her right leg.  As of now, they are hoping that the steroids will continue to improve her right leg and they'll be able to send her home tomorrow (Sunday).  

She is awake and doing well, although she is a bit "fuzzy"....having a bit of trouble coming up with words at times.  This may be a symptom of all the medications she is on at the hospital.

We will keep everyone updated as we know more.  Thanks for caring, praying and being in her corner as we walk through this.